The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-06
SHIRLEY CARSTONE.
By ELIZA ARCHARD.
CONTINUED
CHAPTER TX.
FALLEN FORTUNES

FALLEN FORTUNES
1t was a rainy day. Smoke was sullenly
making its way out of the stone house Chin
ney, like boy sent to school against his will.
A year has passed since the close of the
last chapter. Not much had happened to our
people in that year. Yet it had been enough
to change the destiny of some of them for
life. Ii had brought poverty to the stone
house The death of Col Carstone re
vealed the fact that the friend who had in
vested his fortune for him had been false to
the trust. Not enough remained 10 give
bread to the children.
Shirley was the head of the family From
her mother down to the 3-year-old Harry
all leaned upon her, and looked to her to tell
them what to do next
What theng Shirley's soul had been full
to overfowing of her own thoughts and hopes
Now she put her own thoughts and hopes
in corner and began TO think and hope for
other people.
The false friends investments had swal-
lowed nearly all. Even the mill and the
farm had to 60 Interest had been paid regu-
larly during the Colonel's lifetime, SO that he
had no knowledge of the state his affairs
were in. There were debts in many direc-
tions too The old family lawyer was able to
keep only the stone house for the Carstones
A heavy debt hung over even that This
was the condition of things.
Somebody had TO go TO work.
"Well," said Katy Tringle, the old maid,
who always carried black basket with a
tapping lid on each side, them Carstone
young ones amt no better than other folks
children | reckon they'll find out workin'
folks victuals amt all white bread now
They'll have to break up. Them biggest
ones is old enough to do chores for their
board"
Must the family in the stone house be scat
teredf 1t was enough to make the genera
tions of Carstones that had been born
and lived and died there turn over in their
graves.
Shirley was dreamer, and intensely i'm
aginative. This is to be remembered in trac-
ing the change her life took ON at this time,
and the history of it afterward The story
of lofty ideas and heroic action made always
an impression on her mind that held like iron
Beyond a doubt the poetry, the history and
drama that George Morrison read to her had
much to do with shaping her life. Following
sages and martyrs gone before, she climbed
the heights of generous and daring thought,
murmuring ever more to her own soul,
ASuch thoughts l viii think too" Did she
hear of great and noble deed, her heart
throbbed quicker and her eyes grew dewy
with sympathy, and she uncon1ciously said,
"Such deeds /, too, will do when the time
comesn
Nay, she went step farther, pondering as
she did still the old question she had asked
her papa in childhood, "Has girl as much
sense as boyl She answered it to herself as
she grew older, saying with the deep, wise
conclusion of unspoiled girlhood, What
strong, heroic men have done, strong, heroic
women can do.
She had said she would be wise and stead.
fast when the time came that demanded
strength and wisdom Was the time ripei
She had dreamed of shining occasion for
heroism. Was it to come now in this SORROW
full, wholly unlocked for ways Above all,
and after all her dreams, was it in such poor,
commonplace guise that her occasion pre-
sented itself at lastl That was the most dis.
heartening of anything. All who are young,
aspiring and human must have felt the same.
She did not doubt her own powers. She had
the faith in herself that comes of a conscious
ness of strength. 1t was not vanity. 1t was
something very different. The two wisest
! men she knew had had infinite faith in her,
and had infinite belief in the strength of
| good woman. They were her father and her
| teacher. In these days of trial her mind ran
continually on that beloved teacher, the
dom ne had spoken.
| Out of the beautiful past his voice said to
| her now:
~Reconcile yourself to the inevitable
| "a really great soul is great also in little
| things. II it is not to be our lot to fill grand
requirements, we may at least fill small re-
quirements in a grand way. If ever there
comes clashing of forces in your mind, Shir-
ley, so that you cannot seem to know what
/ is best, remember this: Do the duty that lies
nearest you. That viii surely lead you into
/ the light And never lose courage-never
| give up!"
| The sorrowful winter crept by with leaden
| feet. 1t required all Shirley's time and facul-
ties to get the tangled thread OF the Carstone
| fortunes Strengthened ort new trouble
! faced her, one that she had least of all ex-
pected. Her mother gradually sank into a
| confirmed invalid. 1t was worse than that
1t was about as bad as it could be, in fact
She became a hypochondriac. Shirleys
mother was not one of the Carstone sort She
was of the million and one members of the
female sex who are put in to fill up, of whom
we say she is good, sweet woman, and dis
miss them She was one of the amiaBIe
creatures for whose ladylike ailments the doc
| tors prescribe goats whey and gentle exer-
else- Their ailments are always ladylike. In
brief, she was one of the women who stay
where they are put They are amiable Yes.
But how very uninteresting. During her
husbands lifetime, his strong character and
high spirits had borne Mrs Carstone beyond
herself. Like the moon. she had shone by
reflected light Doubtless that is quite the
proper thing for wives to do. But it is rather
inconveDient when the light is withdrawn
Then they are merely dark body In the
way.
Her husband dead, she sank to her level
His death and the manner of It were fright
full shock 70 her. A strong character would
. have rallied She never tried to do so, but
simply hung upon Shirley in querulou1
J way. She weighted Shirley down and irri
tated her at the same time
n She was fair to see, this pretty invalid
i mamma.
Land sake,n said little Mis- Simpkins, @she
don't look no older than Shirley, layin
| around there ON sofys in her white cashmere
| gowns trimmed with blue silk that has to bs
| ripped of every time the gown is washed
Her skin is as soft and white as babys, thai
it is, and them red cheeks of bern Is the pict
ure OF health She amt no more sick nor
|; am. She's as fat as q hen on a corn pile
She could get right up offn that there sofJ
: and 60 and do a churnin' this mint, or I'm Z
! liar. But there she lays, and it's Shirley thi
and Shirley that and Shirley 'tother, til
, you'd think her tongue'd wear out
/ --
il sIAs|--@s5-F71-
,.;saRNEhenI1a